No help available when its needed

[NHSdoesntcare]

Im really struggling today so yet again find myself trawling the internet trying to find some support, and theres none to be found

Apart from the samaritins (which can work out expensive phoning) who I find very condescending, there are no support lines when you just need to talk to someone.

I have tried when I'm not feeling so down to get some support in place for when I need it, like today, but have failed to find any adequate help or support anywhere where I live. If you phone the NHS all you get is told to go to the local A & E which is not what I need and not an option anyway. The NHS recommended help sites like mind or depression allance are only available if you pay to join or telephone lines are only open in th evenings whichh is not a lot of good when your sitting during the day trying hard to think of reasons whe you would just be better off dead.

Why is there no support available during the day other than A & E departments which are miles away with no transport and IMO a step further than what is required?

[Annette Boden - Counsellor]

I am so sorry that you are struggling at present. I am not sure of your current situation as you don't mention it or whether you have seen the GP recently.
I can recommend mindfulness and meditation which do help to reduce depressive symptoms but also it might be worth finding out if there is a local self help group near you where you can meet up with people. I know there are a number of charities that offer support for a nominal fee such as Anxiety UK where there is access to fellow sufferers either by phone/internet/or post.
If you like reading I can recommend 3 websites to access in the first instance:
I would recommend that you take a look at the website of the compassionate mind foundation

www.compassionatemind.co.uk for more information.

Professor Paul Gilbert has also written an excellent book "The compassionate mind" which I recommend to all my clients.

I also highly recommend the work of Professor Kristin Neff and her book "Self compassion".

Kristin Neff http://www.self-compassion.org/will be running workshops in the UK later this year with her colleague Dr Christopher Germer. His book that I recommend is called "The mindful way to self compassion". www.mindfulselfcompassion.org.
Even if you just have a go at some of the self help excercises that are available on the above websites you are focusing your attention on action and that creates motivation for change- change being able to access positive feelings at this moment in time.
All life is valuable and precious including yours and I wonder if you have thought about volunteering as a befriender locally perhaps at a local hospice or looking to join a local group such as a walking group as these often run during the day- this depends on your hobbies and interests and how comfortable you are at meeting new people- again I do not know your circumstances so am just making suggestions that may be helpful
I hope that helps a bit.

[NHSdoesntcare]

Thank you but only 1 of the 3 links actually work and the one that does work is all about being compassionate towards others and how to help along with details of 2 sold out workshops which are in london anyway whereas I live in the middle of nowhere with no amenities and no help either.

As for the helping yourself through helping others, while it is a great idea and Im not against it, there is nowhere here that is in need of anyone and not much help when you are struggling for a reason to stay alive. There are no support groups of any kind other than the usual mother and toddler groups which being neither a mother or toddler dont really have a place for me. There are no hospitals or hospices that I could volunteer to help in, although I have a phobia of hospitals andyway along with social phobia, I have no transport of my own any the spiralling out of control cost of fuel would make unnecessary travelling out of my financial reach even if I had a car. When I said there were no amenities where I lived I really mean there is absolutely nothing which is why people like me NEED some sort of accessible support network that is not only open in the evenings, useless unsympathetic doctors are not helpful when you have suffered depression most of your life due to thyroid disease, not are NHS services which are geared towards people in areas where there are already loads of amenities, while there is no help at all for people living in more remote areas.

[PMDDSurvivor]

I just wanted to let you know of a free phone number for the Samaritans that they do not advertise.
I think it should be widely advertised, I have been in distress and not had money or phone credit to call anyone other than emergency services which is not always appropriate - this number really could be the difference between life and death.
It is - 116 123.

[NHSdoesntcare]

Thank you, thats more helpful than the drivel the professional wrote, and I agree it should be a free phone number for everyone.

Unfortunately I'm no better today and still havnt managed to come up with a reason why it wouldnt just be better for everyone if I just wasnt here anymore

[saraht]

You sound so lonely and isolated.

Although I am not a specialist in depression, it haunts many of my clients many of whom live in very rural locations up here in Yorkshire. If you email the Samaritans, or use Skype to call, perhaps they can work with you without causing this awful frustration and lack of hope that you are feeling at the moment. There is another service too that uses Skype, Supportline. Both of these services have been used by people known to me who have very little financial support.

Sarah

[NHSdoesntcare]

Thank you for your reply, I'm sure its useful to some. I dont have skype myself, and most agencies including the samaritans that use e-mail reply within 3 - 5 days which is not that helpful when your in crisis.

I shall continue struggling on with no help, until the day finally comes when I can struggle no longer.

[talkhealth]

You may want to talk to one of our charity partners who you can contact by clicking any of the logos above, or perhaps contact The Samaritans - http://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-he ... contact-us